Drapery hanger



June 16, 1964 p, G BlRKLE 3,137,027

DRAPERY HANGER Filed March 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet l PGD- .ATTORNEY 34 JNVENTOR. '.l- ZO PAUL G. BHKLE l4C) P. G. BIRKLE DRAPERY HANGER June 16, 1964 Filed March 26, 1962 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 QAUL BW* l mw//A Fre. l2

w mK va NR N n\. a. O T @%M United States Patent() `3,137,027 DRAPERY HANGER Paul G. l`Birkle, le'terH. lAlbrechtCompany, 25 E. Chicago -.St.,rMilwaukee 2, Wis. Filed Mar. 26, 1962,Se'r. No. 182,459 11 Claims. (Cl. 16-87.2)

This invention relates to drapery hangers, particularly of an improved snap-on type that are slidably carried in orwon a transverse rod. Y

"Drapery hangers presently available for lboth household and commercial use generally are attached 'to the drape by inserting pins `through the drape or providing permanent holes or pleats in the drape. The use of pins 'is undesirable since there is a tendency to tear `the drape. rPermanent holes or pleats limit the use of the drape to the design established by the pleats or the holes.

The`-`primary object of this :invention is to provide a drapery hanger that can be simply and easily attached to the edge of a drape.

Another object of this invention is to provide a drapery hanger that "is small in size and economical to manufacture. i

A further object is to provide a drapery hanger that can be adapted to provide straight or V,pleated type connections. i

A still further object is to provide a drapery hanger that can be injection molded and is flexible 'enough to be easily mounted on a drape and rigid enough to firmly support the drape on a traverse rod.

These objects are accomplished by molding small clasps from resilient plastic material which can be easily liexed for mounting on 'the drape. The clasp is then inserted into a heavier type molded cap that squeezes kthe clasp firmly Vonto the edge of the drape. Tabs are provided on the sides of the clasp to lock the clasp within .the cap so that it cannot be removed without vthe aid of a tool. The caps may be provided with a number of different configurations depending on the form of the traverse rod on which `the cap is to be mounted.` The manufacturing cos'ts of a drapery hanger of this type have been reduced to such an extent that this type drapery hanger is competitive with substantially all drapery hangers presently on the market and is able to support Y any size drape.

y the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a view of a snap-in type drapery hanger mounted in a traverse rod;

FIG. 2 is a side view partly in section of the drapery hanger; l

FIG. 3 is an exploded View of FIG. 2 with a drape positioned in the clasp;

FIG. 4 is a view taken on line 4-4 of FIG. 2 showing the locking arrangement between the clasp and cap;

FIG. 5 is a side view of the release tab on the clasp; FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the clasp;

. FIG. 7 is a View of the snap-on type drapery hanger mounted on the drape in pairs;

FIG. 8 is a view of the connecting link for mounting the drapery hanger as shown in FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view of a ring-type cap mounted on a round traverse rod;

FIG. 10 is a view in section of a modied drapery straight clasp;

Patented June 16, 1964 rice FIG. 14 is a view of the alignment of a drape positioned in the connected hangers;

FIG. 15 is a view of a drape gathered in the space between the connected hangers; i

FIG. 16 is a view of two dilie'rent ways of mounting a drape in the modiiied clasp; and j v FIG. 17 is a view showing the means for removing the clasp from the cap.

Referring more particularly to the drawings (FIG.l 1 through 6) a snap-on type drapery hanger 1li is shown mounted on drape 12 and slidably positioned in a C type traverse rod 14. The hanger includes-a cap 16 and a clasp 18 which are molded from a plastic material, such as nylon. The clasp has a pair of depending legs 20 connected by a bridge 22 at one end and spaced apart to form a slot 24. The legs are llexible with respect to the bridge so that the clasp can be mounted on the 'edge of a drape. One-way ridges 26 are alternately spaced on the inner surfaces of the legs to grip the drape when the legs are squeezed together. v

The cap has a central aperture 28 which is contoured to engage the outer surface of the clasp. A round configuration is shown in the drawing but a square cornered type conguration could be used if desired. The cap forms a rigid support for the clasp when the clasp is inserted therein. Slots 30 are provided on opposite sides of the cap for alignmentwith the slot in the clasp thereby providing clearance for the drape. The clasp is locked into the cap by snapping tabs 32 and 34 into holes 36 and 38 in the cap. Tab 32'has a ilat lower surface 40 which securely locks the clasp in the cap. As seen in FIG. 17, the clasp can be removed from the cap by inserting end 42 of a screwdriver into the space between the cap and clasp adjacent tab 32 and prying the cap outward. Surface 40 of the tab will be released from hole 36 and thev clasp can be pulled fromrthe cap. A disc-type top 44 is provided on the cap for sliding engagement with in the C shaped traverse rod.

In FIGS. 7 and 8, a modilied type arrangement, is shown in which a pair of buttons 46 are provided on one side of the cap. A strap48 having holes 50 is snapped onto the buttons to hold the hangers in a spaced relation. As seen in FIGS. 14 and l5, the drape may be aligned straight through the clasp or it may be gathered in the space between the hangers. j

In FIGS. 9 through 12, a drape hanger is shown having a modified clasp 60 and cap 62. The cap has a ringtype upper section 64 which is slidably mounted on rod 66. The clasp has one large leg 68 and a pair of smaller legs 70 interconnected by bridge 72 and spaced to form a three-way slot 74. A central aperture 76 is provided in the ca'p into which the clasp can be inserted. Slots 78 are provided in the walls of the cap for alignment with the three-Way slot in the clasp. A lock-type tab 80 is provided on the back of leg 68 for locking engagement with holes 82 and dimples 84 are provided in the other legs for engagement With holes 86. 4The drape may be inserted straight through the slot in the clasp or pleated as shown in FIG. 16. Alternate one-way ridges are provided on the inner surface of the slot to hold the drape in the clasp. The three-way slot could be used in the cap shown in FIGS. 1 through 6 if desired. The snapon strap could also be used with the ring-type cap if buttons Were provided on one side of the cap.

This type of drapery hanger can be made from various types of plastics and injection molded providing an extremely inexpensive type drapery hanger. The clasp can be easily mounted on the edge of the drape and when inserted into the cap provides a firm gripping action which will support a considerably large drape.

Although several embodiments of the'present invenvtion have been illustrated and described, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that'various changes and modiicati'ons may be made therein without departing from the spirit ofthe invention or from the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1.' A drapery hanger comprising,

a clasp having two legs and opposite faces on the insides of said legs,

alternately spaced and transversely extending ridges onV said opposite faces, hinge means connecting said two legs and permitting said legs to spread apart to receive the edge of a drape between said legs, y a cap having means for slidably engaging a traverse rod, said cap having means for receiving and releasably locking said clasp within said cap, said cap also having means for pressing said two legs lof said claps toward each other when said clasp is received within said cap to thereby firmly engage said ridges with the drape without piercing the drape, and locking means to disengageably hold said clasp within said cap to thereby form a two-piece assembly and permitting said clasp to be aligned with the drape independent of the position of said cap. 2. A drapery hanger comprising, a plastic cap, means for operably securing said cap to a traverse rod, a U-shaped clasp having alternatelyspaced and transversely extending ridges on the opposite inside surfaces of said clasp and having a resilient connection between the two legs of the U-shaped clasp thereby permitting relative movement between said legs to insert the edge of a drape therebetween, said cap having outside walls defining a central aperture'adapted to receive said U-shaped clasp,

locking means adapted to removably secure said clasp in said aperture, said walls of said cap serving to press said legs toward each other when said clasp is locked in said aperture to thereby press said ridges against the inserted drape and frictionally secure the same to the drapery hanger.

3. A drapery hanger according to claim 2 wherein said locking means comprise tab means positioned on the outside of the surfaces4 of said U-shaped clasp and slots in said walls of said cap adapted to engage said tab means, and wherein said walls are of resilient material thereby permitting their relative movement in respect to said tab to disengage said tab means and clasp from said cap.

4. A two-piece drapery hanger,

the rst piece comprising, drape engaging means having oppositely positioned gripping members, said membersV being movable from a spread apart position toward each other to a gripping position, said members permitting the insertion of a drape between said gripping members when in the spread apart position andl operably engaging the drape when in said gripping position,

the second piece comprising, a cap separate from said drape engaging means, said cap having attachment means for securing said cap to a member from which the drape is to be hung, said cap having oppositely positioned faces spaced apart a distance suicient to slidably receive said gripping members and to hold them toward each other when so received to thereby position said gripping members in said gripping position, said cap. also having locking means operable to maintain said gripping members secured to said cap and in a gripping position and koperable to release said gripping members from said cap. I

5. A drapery hanger according to claim 4 wherein said attachment means comprises a disc molded integral with the top of the cap.

6. A drapery hanger accordingto claim 4 wherein said attachment means comprises a ring molded integral with the top of the cap. v

7. A drapery hanger according to claim 4 wherein said cap includes means for interlocking the cap with an adjacent cap comprising a pair of buttons molded integral with the outer surface of the cap and a strap engageable with the buttons for interlocking adjacent hangers.

8. A two-piece drapery hanger according to claim 4 wherein said cap has axially extending slots through which the drape extends when said clasp is received by said cap and said gripping members are in said gripping position. i

9. A two-piece drapery hanger according to claim 4 wherein said cap and its oppositely positioned faces are of resilient material and wherein said faces exert a resilienty force onto said gripping members to thereby hold them in said gripping position.

i 10. A two-piece drapery hanger according to claim 9 wherein said locking means comprise tab means incorporated in one of said pieces of the drapery hanger, and

'slot means adapted to be engaged by said tab means and incorporated in the other of said pieces of the drapery hanger.

1l. A drapery hanger comprising a cap,

attachment means for securing said cap to a member from which the drape is to be hung,

a clasp having two legs and opposite faces on the insides of said legs,

drape engaging means on said opposite faces and operable to engage a drape inserted therebetween,

means incorporated in said-clasp which permit said two legs to spread apart to receive Va drape therebetween, and which permits said legs to be moved towards each other to thereby cause said opposite faces to engage the drape,

means incorporated in said cap to move said legs towards eachv other when said clasp is secured within said cap to thereby press said drape engaging means in an engaging position with a drape inserted therebetween, and

locking means to disengageably hold said clasp Within said cap and to thereby form a two-piece assembly and permit said clasp to be aligned with the drape independent of the position of said cap.

References Cited in the le of this patent UNTTED STATES PATENTS 717,722 Strickland Jan. 6, 1903 857,829 Powell June 25, 1907 1,604,686 Falkenberg Oct. 25, 1926 2,239,631 Tenrich et al.' Apr. 22, 1941 2,514,118 Binsack a July 4, 1950 2,817,133 Mills Dec. 24, 1957 2,863,164 Schesvold Dec. 9, 1958 3,002,239 Yonemoto Oct. 3, 1961 3,013,604 Roberts Dec. 19, 1961 

4. A TWO-PIECE DRAPERY HANGER, THE FIRST PIECE COMPRISING, DRAPE ENGAGING MEANS HAVING OPPOSITELY POSITIONED GRIPPING MEMBERS, SAID MEMBERS BEING MOVABLE FROM A SPREAD APART POSITION TOWARD EACH OTHER TO A GRIPPING POSITION, SAID MEMBERS PERMITTING THE INSERTION OF A DRAPE BETWEEN SAID GRIPPING MEMBERS WHEN IN THE SPREAD APART POSITION AND OPERABLY ENGAGING THE DRAPE WHEN IN SAID GRIPPING POSITION, THE SECOND PIECE COMPRISING, A CAP SEPARATE FROM SAID DRAPE ENGAGING MEANS, SAID CAP HAVING ATTACHMENT MEANS FOR SECURING SAID CAP TO A MEMBER FROM WHICH THE DRAPE IS TO BE HUNG, SAID CAP HAVING OPPOSITELY POSITIONED FACES SPACED APART A DISTANCE SUFFICIENT TO SLIDABLY RECEIVE SAID GRIPPING MEMBERS AND TO HOLD THEM TOWARD EACH OTHER WHEN SO RECEIVED TO THEREBY POSITION SAID GRIPPING MEMBERS IN SAID GRIPPING POSITION, SAID CAP ALSO HAVING LOCKING MEANS OPERABLE TO MAINTAIN SAID GRIPPING MEMBERS SECURED TO SAID CAP AND IN A GRIPPING POSITION AND OPERABLE TO RELEASE SAID GRIPPING MEMBERS FROM SAID CAP. 